College playoff system stands little chance

MIAMI — In the battle of postseason college football scenarios, the Bowl Championship Series remains victorious -- and probably will for several years.

The BCS is a points system that determines the No. 1 and No. 2 teams for the national title game, which rotates among the Fiesta (January 2003) Sugar (2004), Orange (2005) and Rose (2006) bowls.

Representatives from the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee reaffirmed their stance against a college football playoff system last month and revealed plans for a Sept. 8 meeting in Chicago to include Division I-A presidents of schools whose conference champions do not have automatic berths in the four BCS games.

"We have directed our conference commissioners to bring to us options and alternatives for improvement in the BCS," University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman said.

"We expect them to do so as we prepare for the renegotiation of the various agreements that form the basis of the current system.

"However, let me also say we have instructed the conference commissioners to not pursue, at least at this point, an NFL-style playoff system for postseason college football."

The BCS formula is made up of four equal parts: an average of the AP and coaches polls, computer rankings, strength-of-schedule rankings and won-loss records.

The current structure gives automatic berths for the four games to the champions of the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pacific-10 and Southeastern Conferences, plus two at-large berths.

The current contract expires after the 2006 Rose Bowl.

The anti-playoff sentiment, according to several college presidents, stems from wanting to preserve the welfare of student-athletes by not extending the season through final exams or into the second semester, impairing their academics.

They also said they want to preserve the bowl tradition and allow fans "a realistic opportunity" to travel with teams in the postseason.

A one-game championship after the four bowls has not been ruled out.

Perlman said NCAA President Myles Brand sees the NCAA's role in the postseason debate being "facilitative only."

The NCAA, Perlman said, does not intend to take over the postseason system.

"The bowls have a long, well-functioning tradition, and we're trying to preserve that while allowing a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup to take place," Perlman said.

Penn State President Graham Spanier said he can envision various scenarios in which the money might be greater if college football went to a playoff system, but he is against them all.

"I really don't want to head down that road," he said. "We're skeptical that a national champion could be determined through a playoff format without intruding on student-athlete academics and welfare.

"A playoff would extend well into the second academic semester quarter. It would affect the academic integrity we're all trying to achieve. It's going to deprive some of our fans of the opportunity to plan ahead, to follow a team where they want to be."